My placement experience at Aldi

Undergraduate student Tia shares her placement year experience at Aldi. 

Why I chose to do a placement year

After learning about the opportunity to spend my third year in industry at a WBS networking event, I quickly realised it was the right path for me. Hearing senior students speak about their experiences, the skills they developed, and the industry knowledge they gained strongly motivated me to pursue a placement. I saw it as a great opportunity to apply what I had learned at WBS in a real-world setting while building practical experience that would be invaluable upon finishing my degree.

Applying for placements: the process and key considerations

Whilst I was certain that I wanted to undertake an industrial placement, I was completely unaware of where to find opportunities or how to maximise my chances of success in such a competitive and demanding application process. The WBS CareersPlus and Employer Relations team played a crucial role in supporting me during the initial stages of my applications. They delivered group sessions for general guidance as well as tailored one-to-one support to address application stages I found particularly challenging.

Additionally, I initially struggled to narrow down the industry area that I wanted to work in. I had such a wide variety of interests and little work experience to help narrow my choice that I found it difficult to decide where to focus my applications. However, through reflecting on the modules I had undertaken during my first and second years at university, I realised I had developed a keen interest in supply chain and operations. As a result, I applied to several placements related to these areas and was fortunate to land the National Supply Chain Industrial Placement Student role at Aldi.

My year on placement

Upon starting my placement in July, I initially found it challenging to meet the high demands and responsibilities of a project management role. However, with the support of the placement team at WBS and my colleagues at Aldi, I quickly adapted and grew into the position. Through a combination of structured training and independent learning, I developed several key skills essential for success within the sales forecasting team. These included strengthening my analytical capabilities, advancing my proficiency in Excel and coding, and enhancing core soft skills such as effective communication and impactful presentations.

It was incredibly rewarding to watch my project grow throughout the year, starting with just a few flower lines and eventually expanding to all short-life products. Through this process, I gained exposure to several business units, including merchandising and buying, and was given several opportunities to report on the project's success to senior management.

Overall, my placement year has been an invaluable experience, enabling me to apply my academic knowledge in a practical setting while making a meaningful contribution to Aldi’s business.

Reflecting on my year and looking to the future

Now that I have returned to WBS, I am so thankful for the experiences and opportunities I was able to have whilst on my year in industry. I recognise how much I have developed both professionally and personally. Initially, I found the transition into a fast-paced corporate environment challenging, but over time, I built confidence in my abilities and became more comfortable taking ownership of my work. I learned the importance of adaptability, resilience, and proactive communication when working across teams.

This experience also reinforced my interest in supply chain and operations, giving me a clearer sense of my future career direction. Overall, the placement has better prepared me for graduate roles and has given me the confidence to pursue opportunities in a dynamic business environment